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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYA Madhu and the Śūlaratna (30) :-The PCV gives an independent story but the seeds of its motif are in the VR.
Story of Ahalya (32) ;-It is quite an independent story in the PCV. It counteracts the superstitious and divine elements of the mythological story found in the VR.
King Dandaka (40) :-It is quite independent of the VR. Only the burning of the capital of king Dandaka is a common element.
Dhanadatta and Gunamati (54): -The PCV gives a very detailed story and a number of characters play part in it. The basis of it is the story of Vedavati in the VR but there are in the PCV a number of additions and differences. (ii) Stories found in the Mahābhārata but the PCV narrates them in
quite a different way :
(a) Naghușa and Simhikā (14). (iii) Stories found in the Purānas but the PCV narrates them on
different lines : Nárada (3), Saudāsa (15).
(C) Popular Sources : The sources of nearly 35 stories are not traceable. It is quite probable that the author of the PCV might have invented some of them with his genius and he might have inherited some stories through the oral tradition of his predecessors. At least the five stories (46 to 50) coming under Mayopākhyāna very clearly reveal that some floating - popular stories have been introduced in the PCV, because the purpose or the point the author wants to explain is not served by them.
SECTION 2. CONTRIBUTION OF VIMALASŪRI
The preceding section I B (3) (d) of Chapter VI clearly brings out the elements which have been contributed anew by Vimalasūri, Of them the prominent ones are: "Svayamvara' of Kaikeyi; Sītā's brother as Bhāmandala; Ráina's betrothal with Sitä on account of his valour; Rāma's success among various candidates contesting for the hand of Sīta ; voluntary exile of Rāma, especially for the favour of Bharata; Kaikeyi's unsuccessful efforts in preventing Rāma from going into exile; many wives of Rāma and Lakşmaņa; marriage of Sitā's sons, their 'digvijaya' and battle with Rāma; Hanumat's character depicting general human traits and some details about the ancestral history of the Rakşasas and the Vānaras. Vimalasūri's historical, cultural and literary contribution consists in bringing these elements into light.
